Abstract:
A microreactor may include a reaction channel having at least one curved microchannel, the at least one curved microchannel having an outer and inner curved surfaces and being configured to generate a centrifugal force, an inlet configured to supply at least one reactant into the reaction channel, and an outlet bifurcated into a first sub-outlet in communication with the inner curved surface of the at least one curved microchannel and a second sub-outlet in communication with the outer curved surface of the at least one curved microchannel.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a micro-reactor for observing small particles, cells, bacteria, viruses or protein molecules in a fluid. The micro-reactor shows a first channel formed between two layers for containing the fluid, with an inlet and an outlet, the two layers separated by a first distance. A likewise second channel with an inlet and an outlet is placed adjacent to the first channel. A gap connects the first channel and the second channel, at the gap at least one layer showing a window transparent to the method of inspection and at the window the two layers being separated by a very small distance of, for example, 1 μm or less.The micro-reactor may be used with an optical microscope (in which all particles are in focus), inspection with a Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (in which the range of the electrons is limited), inspection with soft X-rays in the 250-500 eV range (also showing a limited range), etc. A method of using the micro-reactor includes applying a gradient over the gap, thereby causing the particles to cross the gap. The gradient may be static or dynamic, and may be a gradient in concentration, of a chemical or biological material, in pressure, in temperature, in electric potential, or in magnetic field. By detecting a property of the particles upstream in the first channel, e.g. using fluorescent labels on the particles, and then applying a pressure burst over the channels when the property meets certain preset criteria, only selected particles can be placed in the gap.
Abstract:
A component separating device includes a substrate, a fluid channel provided at the substrate, an actuator and a groove provided at a surrounding of the actuator, the fluid channel contains a fluid including a liquid component and a solid component, and the actuator generates a standing wave at inside of the fluid channel. By such a constitution, a vibration loss is reduced by reflecting a vibration by the groove to be transmitted to a side of the fluid channel, the standing wave having a strong intensity is generated at inside of the fluid channel, and the small-sized highly accurate component separating device is provided.
Abstract:
A fluid-contactor includes a rotatable platform arranged to rotate about a predetermined axis. The platform has a channel extending generally in a spiral about the axis. The channel has at least a first aperture for the output of a first fluid, and at least a second aperture distant from the axis for the output of a second, more dense, fluid. The platform is arranged to rotate at an angular velocity sufficient to move second fluid within the channel towards the second aperture.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for software-reconfigurable chemical process systems useful in a wide range of applications. Embodiments may include software control of internal processes, automated provisions for cleaning internal elements with solvents, provisions for clearing and drying gasses, and multitasking operation. In one family of embodiments, a flexible software-reconfigurable multipurpose reusable “Lab-on-a-Chip” or “embedded chemical processor” is realized that can facilitate a wide range of applications, instruments, and appliances. Through use of a general architecture, a single design can be economically manufactured in large scale and readily adapted to diverse specialized applications. Clearing and cleaning provisions may be used to facilitate reuse of the device, or may be used for decontamination prior to recycling or non-reclaimed disposal. In other embodiments, a flexible software-reconfigurable multipurpose reusable laboratory glassware setup may be realized, sparing talented laboratory staff from repetitive, complex, or low-level tasks occurring in analysis, synthesis, or small-scale chemical manufacturing.
Abstract:
A fluid interface port in a microfluidic system and a method of forming the fluid interface port is provided. The fluid interface port comprises an opening formed in the side wall of a microchannel sized and dimensioned to form a virtual wall when the microchannel is filled with a first liquid. The fluid interface port is utilized to fill the microchannel with a first liquid, to introduce a second liquid into the first liquid and to eject fluid from the microchannel.
Abstract:
A fine channel device comprising a fine channel (19) provided with at least two inlet ports (11, 28, 29) for feeding fluid, inlet channels communicated with the inlet ports, a confluent portion (37) communicated with the inlet channels to feed the fluid, a branch portion (4) communicated with the fine channel, from which at least two outlet channels are branched to feed predetermined amounts of fluid, and outlet ports (12, 30, 31) communicated with the outlet channels, wherein the fine channel (19) is provided with a plurality of partition walls (22) along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid (13, 14) fed from the inlet ports so as not to cause mutual contamination of fluid, whereby different kinds of fluid flowing in the fine channel in an adjacent state can form stably the fluid boundary and each kind of fluid can be discharged from a predetermined outlet port separately without causing the mutual contamination of fluid between adjacent flows of the fluid, is provided. By using such fine channel device, a chemical reaction can be accelerated by making two different kinds of fluid contact at the fluid boundary in a flowing direction of fluid in the fine channel of the fine channel device.
Abstract:
Laminated, multiphase separators and contactors having wicking structures and gas flow channels are described. Some preferred embodiments are combined with microchannel heat exchange. Integrated systems containing these components are also part of the present invention.
Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a novel apparatus and novel methods for the separation, characterization, and manipulation of matter. In particular, the invention combines the use of frequency-dependent dielectric and conductive properties of particulate matter and solubilized matter with the properties of a suspending medium to discriminate and separate such matter. The apparatus includes a chamber having at least one spiral electrode element. Matter is separated in the chamber by a dielectrophoretic (DEP) force caused by the energized electrode or electrodes.
Abstract:
A method of separating mixtures of microscopic dielectric particles in sunsions in an apparatus for carrying the method. A mixture of particles is forced onto guide paths by dielectrophoretic forces or by a flow of the suspension medium with an additional force, which is provided to compensate the force causing the particles to move along the guide paths for specific particle species causing the specific particle species to be fed out from the mixture of particles. The apparatus may be integrated on surfaces of silicon wafers at low cost and in mass-production numbers, and is suitable for isolating minute particles such as biological cells, cell organelles, bio molecules as well as organic dielectric particles.